Rolling mill for continuously rolling metal bars and wires



July-28, 1964 l. PROPERZI 3,142,208

ROLLING MILL FOR commuousuz ROLLING METAL BARS AND WIRES Filed April 11. 1960 w H Q5 i:

BY fiunio ilmperzii United States Pateut O 3,142,203 RQLLHNG MlLL FOR CONTWUOUSLY ROLLING METAL BARS AND W S Hilario Properzi, Via Cosimo del Fante 10, Milan, ltaly Filed Apr. 11, 1%0, Ser. No. 21,332 Claims priority, application Italy Apr. 11, 1959 (Ilaims. (Cl. 80-34) This invention relates generally to rolling mills for the continuous rolling of bars, wires and similarly shaped metal members. In particular, the invention is directed to an improved rolling unit of the type including three rolls spaced at angles of 120 about a rolling axis and which converge toward the axis so that the peripheral outlines of the rollers define the shape of the cross-section which is desired for the metal stock.

A continuous rolling mill having rolling units of the type referred to above is described and claimed in my prior United States Patent No. 2,789,450, dated April 23, 1957. Rolling mills of this general type provide satisfactory results for the rolling of many metals including lead, zinc, aluminum and their alloys. It is possible to roll bars or rods of copper and steel with such mills, but the investigations made with these materials have met with substantial difiiculties. For instance, copper has a comparatively high rolling temperature which is about double the rolling temperature of aluminum. These high temperatures do not cause any severe difiiculties in mills intended for rolling ingots of large cross-sections, but they do cause substantial difiiculties in mills intended for rolling stock of comparatively limited cross-section such as bars, wires and the like.

Because of the high temperatures generated in rolling limited cross-section stock of copper or steel material it is desirable to cool the rolls. In the case of rolls operating on ingots of large cross-section, it is possible to accomplish the cooling by applying intense jets of Water to the rolls and stock. However, the use of such intense jets of liquid in a rolling mill operating on stock of smaller cross-section will reduce the temperature of the stock below the level required for proper rolling, and therefore this approach is not a satisfactory solution to the cooling problems in such mills.

The chief object of the present invention is to provide rolling units for a rolling mill in which excessive heating of the rollers is prevented without reducing the temperature of the metal stock below the level required for satisfactory rolling.

A feature of the invention is the provision of a lubricating and cooling system for a rolling unit including one lubricating circuit which provides lubrication and cooling of the parts which cooperate to carry and drive the rolls, and an independent lubricating circuit which lubricates and cools the rolls and the stock. The latter circuit has a high capacity for dispersing heat so that the rather intense heat generated in the rollers and the stock itself is carried away independently of the circuit for lubrication of the driving and carrying parts, and this provides an efl'lcient and practical way of solving the cooling and lubrication problems.

The rolling unit of the invention includes a main housing structure which forms an outer chamber in which three angularly spaced rolls are located together with their associated driving mechanisms and supporting parts. The main housing has a portion forming an inner chamher through which the stock to be rolled passes along an axis, and the three rolls project into this inner chamber and converge toward the rolling axis. The inner and outer chambers are sealed so that each is fluid tight. One stream of fluid flows through the inner chamber and serves to lubricate and cool the peripheral portions of the rolls and the stock, and a separate stream of liquid flows through 3,142,28 Patented July 28, 1964 the outer chamber and serves to lubricate and cool the driving mechanisms and other parts associated with the rolls. Thus, there are two independent lubricating and cooling circuits, and these carry away the excess heat produced in the rolls and the stock and also lubricate and cool the other parts in an efficient manner.

The invention is illustrated by Way of example in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a rolling unit in accordance with the invention, with the section being taken in a plane perpendicular to the rolling axis; and

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 1, but somewhat smaller in size, in which the two independent lubricating and cooling circuits are shown by dotted areas with arrows to indicate the directions of flow.

Referring to the drawings, the rolling unit 1 is one of the individual units of a complete rolling mill of the general type described in the aforementioned Patent No. 2,789,450. As described in that patent, the rolling units of a mill are spaced along a rolling axis to provide a series or train, and the individual units have their driving shafts positioned in alternation above and below the rolling axis. The rolling unit illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the present application represents one of the units of a train which have their driving shafts located above the rolling axis, and it will be apparent that the lubrication system of the invention is equally applicable to units which have their driving shafts located below the rolling axis.

The rolling unit 1 includes a main housing having a base portion 2, an upper portion 3 and side portions 4. The main housing also includes a central portion which forms an enclosure structure 5 which surrounds the rolling axis 6 and defines an inner chamber 7 at and about the rolling axis 6. Located between the central enclosure structure 5 and the outer housing portions 2, 3 and 4 there is an outer chamber 8. The three rolls or roller members 9, 10 and 11 with their associated driving and carrying parts are mainly located in the outer chamber 8, but the peripheral portions of the rolls project through the central housing portion 5 and extend into the inner chamber 7. The rolls are spaced at angles of and their transverse planes converge toward the rolling axis 6. The bar or other stock to be rolled passes along the axis 6, and the peripheral portions of the rolls define the shape which is desired for the stock. In the illustrated embodiment the rolls define a circular shape, but other shapes may be employed.

The roll 10 is keyed to the driving shaft 12 which rotates in the roller bearings 13 supported by the housing parts 3 and 5. The other two rolls 9 and 11 are partially enclosed by auxiliary housings 14 and 15. Each of the auxiliary housings 14 and 15 are received in the outer chamber 8 of the main housing and they abut against the central housing portion 5. The auxiliary housings are locked and held in place by safety bolts 16 which engage the main housing portions 2 and 4. The bolts 16 bear against frustro-conical surfaces formed in the housing portions 2 and 4 so that the pressure of the bolts on the housing urges the shims 17 against bearing surfaces on the central housing portions 5.

Ring-shaped gaskets or packings 18 are provided on both sides of each of the rolls 9, 10 and 11, and these gaskets or packings 18 are positioned radially inward from the outer periphery of the rolls. The gaskets 18 cooperate with the main housing and the auxiliary housings to seal off the inner chamber 7 so that oil or other liquid can flow through the inner chamber 7 without escaping to the outer chamber 8.

The flow path for the oil which lubricates and cools the rolls is shown by small circles and solid-line arrows in FIG. 2. The oil enters the rolling unit through an opening 19 at the top and flows over the peripheral portion of the roll toward the rolling axis 6. The oil then divides into two streams with one flowing over the peripheral portion of the roll 9 and out an opening while the other stream flows over the peripheral portion of the roll 11 and out an opening 20'. Thus, the inner chamber 7 together with the seals and associated housing parts provides an independent lubrication and cooling circuit which effectively disperses heat generated by the action of the rolls on the stock.

The rolls 9 and 11 are respectively keyed to shafts 21 and 22 which rotate in roller bearings 23 and 24 mounted in the auxiliary housings for the rolls. The shafts 21 and 22 have bevel gears 25 and 26 secured thereto at one end outside the auxiliary housings, and these bevel gears respectively mesh with the bevel gears 27 and 28 which are secured to the main driving shaft 12. Thus, the main driving shaft directly rotates the roll 10 and transmits power through the gears 2528 to rotate the rolls 9 and 11.

The driving mechanism for the rolls is lubricated and cooled by oil which flows through the outer chamber 8 as shown by the dotted areas and dashed-line arrows in FIG. 2. The oil enters at a pair of openings 29 and 30 at the top and fills the spaces around the shaft 12 and the gears and bearings associated therewith. The shafts 21 and 22 are hollow at their centers so that the fluid can flow through these shafts to reach the outlet openings 31 and 32. The oil also fills the spaces around the gears and bearings associated with the shafts 21 and 22.

It may be seen from the drawing that the path through the inner chamber 7 permits a freer flow of oil than the path for lubricating the driving mechanisms, and because of this it is capable of dispersing more heat. Most of the heat is generated at the periphery of the rolls, so the separate lubricating circuit for the rolls provides an effective way of preventing excessive heating of the rolls without lowering the temperature of the stock below the proper level.

I claim:

1. In a rolling mill containing a first fluid path for the rolls and the metal member which is rolled therein and a second fluid path for the means carrying and driving said rolls, the combination of a number of rolls, the transverse planes of which converge towards a common rolling axis, said rolls being adapted to roll between them a metal member along said rolling axis, housing means including a central portion surrounding said rolling axis and into which the peripheries of the rolls project, packings fitted between said projecting portions of the rolls and said housing means and cooperating therewith to form within said housing means a fluid-tight path along the outer peripheries of the rolls and through the central portion of the housing means, driving means for driving the different rolls located outside the central portion of the housing means, said driving means maintained in fluid isolation relationship from the central portion of the housing means by said packings, and means for feeding one cooling and lubricating liquid in continuous circulation through said fluid-tight path and another cooling and lubricating liquid in continuous circulation over the driving means.

2. In a rolling mill containing 'a first fluid path for the rolls and the metal member which is rolled therein and a second fluid path for the means carrying and driving said rolls, the combination of a number of rolls, the transverse planes of which converge towards a common rolling axis, said rolls being adapted to roll between them a metal member along said rolling axis, housing means having a central portion surrounding said rolling axis forming an inner chamber into which the rolls project, said housing means defining an outer chamber in which each roll is revolvably carried, means inside said outer chamber for carrying and driving the rolls, liquid-tight means engaging each roll at a short distance within the outer periphery thereof to seal said inner chamber from said outer chamber such that said inner and outer chambers provide independent fluid paths, and means for feeding a first cooling and lubricating liquid in continuous circulation through the inner chamber for cooling and lubricating the rolls and the metal member which is rolled therein, and for feeding a second cooling and lubricating liquid in continuous circulation through the outer chamber over the driving and carrying means in the outer chamber for cooling and lubricating the same.

3. In a rolling mill containing a first fluid path for the rolls and the metal member which is rolled therein and a second fluid path for the means carrying and driving said rolls, the combination of a number of rolls, the transverse planes of which converge towards a common rolling axis, said rolls being adapted to roll between them a metal member along said rolling axis, a central enclosure structure surrounding said rolling axis and into which the rolls project, means defining an outer chamber about said enclosing structure including a plurality of housings each having a roll revolvably carried therein, means contained in said chamber for driving the rolls, liquid-tight means engaging each roll at a short distance within its outer periphery to seal said outer chamber with reference to the central enclosure structure into which the outer periphery of the rolls project, means for feeding one cooling and lubricating liquid through said central structure in continuous circulation for cooling and lubricating the metal member which is being rolled therein, and for feeding another cooling and lubricating liquid in continuous circulation through the outer chamber and over the driving and carrying means therein, and locking means urging each of said housings against the outer surface of the central structure.

4. In a rolling unit for use in a rolling mill; the combination including, housing means having a central enclosure structure defining an inner chamber about a rolling axis along which metal stock to be rolled passes, said housing means further defining an outer chamber located about said central enclosure structure, three circular roll members spaced angularly about said rolling axis and having transverse planes which converge toward said rolling axis, said roll members being poistioned in said outer chamber and having peripheral portions extending through said central enclosure structure and projecting into said inner chamber, a plurality of ring-shaped gaskets respectively positioned on opposite sides of each roll and engaging said housing means and said rolls so as to form a first lubricating and cooling circuit extending over the peripheral portions of said rolls and through said central enclosure structure for providing lubrication and cooling of the roll peripheries and the metal to be rolled, driving means located in said outer chamber including shafts individually connected to said rolls, bearing means rotatably supporting said shafts, and gear means intercoupling said shafts for providing simultaneous rotation thereof, and means associated with said driving means forming a second cooling and lubricating circuit extending through said outer chamber and over said driving means for providing lubrication and cooling of said driving means, with said first and second lubricating circuits providing independent paths for continuous circulation of a cooling and lubricating liquid.

5. In a rolling machine for rolling metal stock of limited cross-section which passes along a rolling axis, the combination including, housing means having a central enclosure structure positioned at the rolling axis and forming an inner chamber through which the metal stock passes, said housing means further forming an outer chamber located about said central enclosure structure, three circular roll members spaced at angles of about the rolling axis and having transverse planes which converge toward the rolling axis, said roll members being supported by said housing means in said outer chamber and each having a peripheral portion extending through said central enclosure structure and projecting into said inner chamber, said peripheral portions being shaped to define a predetermined cross-section desired for the metal stock and being susceptible to excessive heating due to 5 rolling action on stock of certain materials, a ring-shaped gasket positioned each side of each of said rolls and engaging said roll radially inwardly of the periphery thereof and engaging said housing means, said gaskets and said housing means together forming a lubricating and cooling circuit extending over the peripheral portion of each of said rolls and through said central enclosure structure, driving means supported by said housing means in said outer chamber including shafts individually connected to said rolls, bearing means rotatably supporting said shafts, and gear means intercoupling said shafts for providing simultaneous rotation of said shafts and said rolls, means for feeding one liquid through said lubricating and cooling circuit in continuous circulation for providing lubrication and cooling of said peripheral portions of said rolls and the metal stock, and means for feeding another liquid through said outer chamber and over said driving means therein in continuous circulation for lubricating and cooling the same independently of the roll peripheries and the stock.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,278,617 Edwards Sept. 10, 1918 1,888,098 Swaney Nov. 15, 1932 2,214,279 Kocks Sept. 10, 1940 2,782,662 Malone et a1 Feb. 26, 1957 2,789,450 Properzi Apr. 23, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,204,964 France Aug. 10, 1959 512,636 Germany Nov. 15, 1930 

1. IN A ROLLING MILL CONTAINING A FIRST FLUID PATH FOR THE ROLLS AND THE METAL MEMBER WHICH IS ROLLED THEREIN AND A SECOND FLUID PATH FOR THE MEANS CARRYING AND DRIVING SAID ROLLS, THE COMBINATION OF A NUMBER OF ROLLS, THE TRANSVERSE PLANES OF WHICH CONVERGE TOWARDS A COMMON ROLLING AXIS, SAID ROLLS BEING ADAPTED TO ROLL BETWEEN THEM A METAL MEMBER ALONG SAID ROLLING AXIS, HOUSING MEANS INCLUDING A CENTRAL PORTION SURROUNDING SAID ROLLING AXIS AND INTO WHICH THE PERIPHERIES OF THE ROLLS PROJECT, PACKINGS FITTED BETWEEN SAID PROJECTING PORTIONS OF THE ROLLS AND SAID HOUSING MEANS AND COOPERATING THEREWITH TO FORM WITHIN SAID HOUSING MEANS A FLUID-TIGHT PATH ALONG THE OUTER PERIPHERIES OF THE ROLLS AND THROUGH THE CENTRAL PORTION OF THE HOUSING MEANS, DRIVING MEANS FOR DRIVING THE DIFFERENT ROLLS LOCATED OUTSIDE THE CENTRAL PORTION OF THE HOUSING MEANS, SAID DRIVING MEANS MAINTAINED IN FLUID ISOLATION RELATIONSHIP FROM THE CENTRAL PORTION OF THE HOUSING MEANS BY SAID PACKINGS, AND MEANS FOR FEEDING ONE COOLING AND LUBRICATING LIQUID IN CONTINUOUS CIRCULATION THROUGH SAID FLUID-TIGHT PATH AND ANOTHER COOLING AND LUBRICATING LIQUID IN CONTINUOUS CIRCULATION OVER THE DRIVING MEANS. 